Volume II, Issue 9
Volume II, Issue 9
www.midwestapologetics.org
Welcome to the monthly Midwest Apologetics newsletter. Each issue is designed to keep you informed on the latest news concerning the ministry and provide timely articles to help strengthen your faith. Be sure to check out our website for articles, book reviews, and answers to some of the tough questions concerning the Christian faith.
Can We Know Truth?
I spoke with a close friend yesterday who had just started classes at one of the more conservative Midwestern seminaries. I was deeply saddened by what I heard. Apparently, the postmodern mindset has made deeper inroads into the church than I had imagined.
In one of his classes, the professor told his students that many people believe there are no absolutes and that it is impossible to know anything for sure. Of course, we agree that many people hold this position but it was what the professor said next that distressed me. He essentially told the class that there was no objective way to know whether this position was true or not. In other words, it is impossible to know anything for sure.
At this point, my friend did exactly what I would have done. He asked a “killer” question: “How do these people know that they can’t know anything?” Think about this for a few minutes. In order for someone to claim that a person can’t know anything, then they must “know” that one can’t “know.” The entire agnostic philosophy is based on a contradiction. Sadly, the professor had no answer for this question and seemed entirely confused, as if no one had ever questioned this thinking before.
This story reminds me of my philosophy class in Bible college. While discussing the teachings of Immanuel Kant, my professor said that Kant taught that there were two realms, the noumenal (spiritual) and phenomenal (physical). He said that those in the phenomenal realm could not know anything about the spiritual realm. My professor told us that this was so profound and that it has formed the basis of much of modern philosophy.
Kant’s teachings have certainly had a profound effect on modern philosophy but is this teaching really so profound? Not at all! How can Kant say that there is a noumenal world but that we can’t know anything about it? Hasn’t he just told us two things about it? He said that it exists and that it is unknowable to those in the physical realm.
It is really sad that so many people, especially Christians, have accepted Kant’s premise and tried to build on it. This thinking forms the basis for the postmodern movement, which says that absolute truth, if it exists, cannot be known for sure. It has infiltrated the church to the point that the majority of Christian teens do not even believe in absolute truth. Yet the entire philosophy is based on a contradiction.
How sad it is that so many people have only been trained what to think rather than how to think. As Christians, we do not need to accept this type of erroneous thinking. Every philosophical system ever developed, outside of Christian theism, is based on contradictory thinking. We can rest assured that absolute truth exists and that it can be known. Don’t forget that Jesus claimed to be the way, the TRUTH, and the life (John 14: 6).
On Friday, September 15, we received a phone call that we’ll never forget. Our doctor told us that the bone marrow biopsy results were back and both tests came up negative. This means that I am technically cancer free. In other words, there may still be some cancer left in my body but it is not even detectable with our best medical procedures.
I am still recovering from my third round of chemo. My numbers are just about where they need to be. I should be receiving my final dose of chemo next week some time. Please continue to pray that all goes well with this upcoming round and that I can return to teaching within the next month.
As mentioned in the last newsletter, my school is taking up a collection to help us cover our financial needs. If you are interested in donating to this fund, please send your donation to Tri-State Christian School Care Fund / 11084 Hwy 20W / Galena, IL 61036. (Be sure to include Tim’s name in the memo line of your check – thank you for your kindness and generosity)
All speaking events have been put on hold due to Tim’s leukemia. He is currently working on a talk based on his experiences. Please contact us if you are interested in hearing his testimony blended with a message about thinking rightly about God and His Word.
Health permitting, Tim will be speaking at Living Waters Bible Camp in Westby, WI on November 10 – 11.
If you would be interested to have Tim speak at your church, school, youth group, etc. please email us for more information.
Please pray for the following items this month:
- Cari G. – diagnosed with leukemia, had a bone marrow transplant on September 5th. Please pray that her body will begin to heal itself as a result of this new bone marrow.
- Josh A. – PRAISE! – Josh was recently told that his cancer has gone into remission. He was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Syndrome (an agressive form of cancer). I met Josh and his wife during my stay in the hospital. He is younger than me and has four young children.
- Gayla S. – the niece of a close friend of Midwest Apologetics has recently been intellectually convinced of the Christian faith but needs to take that step of faith to place her life in Christ’s hands. Please pray that she will take that next step.
- Tim – has been dealing with the effects of chemotherapy. He has one more dose of chemo to go.
As always, if you have any questions, comment, concerns, corrections, ideas, prayer requests, etc., please email us and let us know. Also, thank you for your prayers. Please continue to keep us in your prayers throughout this month.
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